Dear Mr. Potter, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment …
Welcome to Hogwarts, one and all. With the release of Harry Potter™ and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Xbox owners have the chance to go back to the start and play through Harry's very first adventure. It's a welcome treat for the hardcore Potter fans waiting patiently for another book or film in the franchise.
Now, let’s meet all of the characters that have made the Harry Potter series so popular. For those of you who don't know what all of this is about, I'll fill you in on the Dramatis Personae.
Harry Potter Left on the doorstep of his Aunt Petunia's home as a baby, Harry was raised in the Dursley household as an unwanted and barely tolerated intrusion. Forced to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs, while his spoiled cousin Dudly had two rooms to himself, Harry learned to tolerate great adversity as he grew up. Instead of being beaten down by this treatment, though, Harry developed strength of character that would serve him well in the difficult trials he would face in his later adventures.
One day, a letter was delivered for Harry, and in spite of his adoptive family's attempt to keep it from him, Harry learned that he was a wizard by heritage, accepted at the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His aunt and uncle hated magical freaks like Harry's parents and forbid him to go, but thanks to the intervention of Hagrid, he was able to attend.
At the start of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry knows little about the world of magic, apart from the fact that he's very famous for having survived the attack of a powerful evil wizard that killed his parents—a wizard referred to only as “he who must not be named.”
Ron Weasley One of the first fellow students that Harry meets is Ron Weasley. Red-haired like all his many siblings, Ron is the second-youngest child in his wizardly family, senior only to his little sister. Though his family is rather poor, Ron is a dependable boy who becomes Harry's close friend and confidant throughout his time at Hogwarts. When they are both selected for inclusion in Gryffindor—one of the four Hogwarts houses—their friendship is sealed.
Hermione Granger A prodigy when it comes to magic and academic studies, Hermione is also sorted into Gryffindor and quickly becomes a friend of Harry and Ron. She's not afraid of the dark hallways or strange creatures at Hogwarts, but lives in constant dread of getting anything but a perfect score on her exams. Hermione is the first wizard to come out of her family and feels the pressure that comes with such a position. She's also the subject of ridicule and discrimination from those narrow-minded individuals who believe only families with a heritage of wizardly blood should be allowed to attend Hogwarts.
Draco Malfoy Into the aforementioned narrow-minded category we can firmly place Draco Malfoy. He senses Harry's power right away and initially tries to befriend Harry. But, it quickly becomes apparent that Draco's ruthless and condescending nature doesn't sit well with the famous Mr. Potter. Draco is sorted into house Slytherin, the group with a reputation for playing dirty and winning at any cost. He's a legacy in the house, being the son of Lucius Malfoy, the current Standing Officer of the Ministry of Magic.
Albus Dumbledore At more than 150 years old, Albus has picked up enough tricks to be a very respectable wizard. He has his watchful eye on everything that happens at the school. If there's one wizard that frightens “he who must not be named,” it's Albus Dumbledore, so Harry Potter is glad to be under his protection.
Professor McGonagall As Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall holds much of Harry Potter's future in her hands. Fortunately, she's a stern but fair instructor, with a genuine desire to help her students become the best witches and wizards possible. She's also the Professor of Transfiguration, so you never know what kind of surprise she might have up her sleeve.
Professor Snape As head of Slytherin House, Snape takes an immediate dislike to Harry Potter, who he finds brash and cocky. He thinks Harry is coasting on his fame and using the legacy of his parents to get special treatment, so he's determined to be extra hard on Potter to make up for it. Snape is the Professor of Potions, but it's well known that he really wants a position teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.
There you have it: a round up of the most important folks you'll meet. Now, gather up your books and your cauldron, and get to class!
